Feb. 7 Letters: Transportation, climate change

February 06, 2013

Hello, governor?

I have read many, many, many reasons telling me why raising the gasoline tax is the best way to fund Virginia's transportation needs. All of these make sense to me even though I dislike paying taxes just as much as the next guy.

I have read several reasons telling me why the governor's proposal to eliminate the gasoline tax and increase the sales tax is not a good way to fund our transportation needs. These make sense to me, too.

I would sure like to see a statement from the governor telling the public why his proposal is better.

He could consider the following: fairness, conservation of energy, balance of payments, simplicity, environmental issues and just plain common sense.

Or is that asking too much?

John L. Shideler

Yorktown

Solution isn't fair?

In the Feb. 2 letter to the editor, "Solution isn't fair," the writer states that poor people who do not drive should pay nothing for our transportation infrastructure.

Everyone who lives here does rely on our transportation system. Trucks account for more than 90 percent of the wear on our roads and no matter what you buy, be it food, clothing or other products, chances are it got to its destination on a truck. People who ride public transportation certainly have a stake in maintaining our roads.

Everyone, regardless of their mode of personal transportation has a stake, so what's not fair?

Mike McNichol

Hampton

Dear Editor,

I applaud President Obama for discussing his "obligation" to address climate change in his inauguration speech and I urge him to propose a plan for action in his upcoming State of the Union address.

We can start by finalizing the industrial carbon pollution standard for new power plants and begin development of an industrial carbon pollution standard for existing power plants.

These actions will lower carbon pollution and reduce the threat from devastating extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires and prevent the associated public health impacts of climate change. The big polluters will continue to ignore the real-world impact of climate change but this administration can take meaningful steps to lead on climate change.